Ebay MH bulbs.

fly2cast · 01/19/2006, 02:29 PM

Does anyone have any experience with those offbrand MH bulbs sold on ebay for $35 or less? How are the colors compared to a more exensive bulb? Any pictures of tanks using these bulbs? Thanks for your help.

VaderWS6 · 01/19/2006, 03:36 PM

A friend of mine bought $30 10k 250watt mh bulbs off ebay brand new (forgot the brand) , and they look identical to XM 10k's in every way, even the color and intensity.

fly2cast · 01/19/2006, 09:05 PM

Thats what I wanted to know. Thanks.

Ti · 01/19/2006, 09:17 PM

I've got a friend running those.
I can't tell anything wrong with those, might just try these out myself next time.

abfleck · 01/19/2006, 09:21 PM

hmmmmmmmmmmm................I have an off brand bulb like what you guys are describing and the color is so yellow its makes me want to puke. The bulb is a 10 K too!

cwschoon · 01/19/2006, 09:23 PM

Am looking for 14 K MH bulbs. Anyone know a good place on line to get them?
Thanks.

Ti · 01/19/2006, 09:45 PM

www.hellolights.com

chinaman4u · 08/21/2006, 10:26 PM

Old thread, but I thought I'd post here instead of starting a new one:

Ebay cheap MH 10K (6 mos old) bulbs on left tank
XM 10K (new) on right tank both are 175W
.......both run off 175W Magnetek tar ballast(s).

chinaman4u · 08/21/2006, 10:30 PM

I should note that when the cheap bulbs were new they were a bit whiter, but my 1 yr old ushio's still burned whiter. These cheap bulbs lose their intensity real fast.

No actinics on, just the bulbs.

mg426 · 08/21/2006, 10:41 PM

I just got a 250 watt SE MH hamilton 14k for 58 bucks off www.diyreef.com

mg426 · 08/21/2006, 10:45 PM

What a bummer I just found a hamilton 250 SE MH 14k for 47 bucks at WWW.fishsupply.com Figures LOL

aries70 · 08/22/2006, 04:14 PM

chinaman4u is the cheap bulb an Plus Brand Bulb ?

smcdonn · 08/22/2006, 04:27 PM

I have bought both the 10K and 14K bulbs off of ebay from greatdel I believe. I got 2 of each. One 10K looked good and the other was very yellow. The 14K's looked good but kept burning out. You get what you pay for. I just bought the 14K hamiltons from fishsupply and love them. Cheers

escape2theocean · 08/22/2006, 07:40 PM

Talk about a bummer, I just bought 2 hamilton 250w 14k's from hellolights for $82 each!

rsxs1212 · 08/22/2006, 07:44 PM

i bought an off brand 14k off ebay and i have hardly any blue.. the 50 gal tank in my gallery is the 14k bulb.. it was only like 29 bucks but its not blue at all as ytou can see

aries70 · 08/22/2006, 07:49 PM

your 14k looks like a member of local clubs 14k I want some blue just not like my Coralvue 20k I wonder if thier 20k is more like a 14k

rsxs1212 · 08/22/2006, 07:58 PM

its a "PlusRite" 14,000k 175w bulb running on a hamilton technologies 175w MH ballast

aries70 · 08/22/2006, 09:05 PM

that's the same bulb a club member has I might just get 1 14k and a 20k just to see how blue the 20k really is if I don't like run the 14k

chinaman4u · 08/22/2006, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aries70
chinaman4u is the cheap bulb an Plus Brand Bulb ?

I don't think they are Plus brand. They were the cheapest on Ebay; direct from Hong Kong in a white box. Bulbs just marked :

MH175W
10K
MADE IN CHINA

aries70 · 08/23/2006, 12:20 AM

k thanks that doesn't sound like the plus brand bulbs

jstraka1 · 08/23/2006, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by smcdonn
I have bought both the 10K and 14K bulbs off of ebay from greatdel I believe. I got 2 of each. One 10K looked good and the other was very yellow. The 14K's looked good but kept burning out. You get what you pay for. I just bought the 14K hamiltons from fishsupply and love them. Cheers

Same here, I bought a 14k from greatdel and it burned out in 2 months.

aries70 · 08/23/2006, 08:11 AM

Ya I'm gona make sure I don't get ones from them I'm planning on going thru A to T lamps they sell the Plus Brand bulbs

javatech · 08/23/2006, 05:36 PM

I just got one on the the bay for 23.99 from lights64 it's a PlusRite 250 14K
it's nice and bright but it's not 14k it's a good 10k
i'll have to give it a few days

aries70 · 08/23/2006, 05:57 PM

Ya that's why I was gona get the 20k and a 14k just in case thier 20k is actually 20k

rsxs1212 · 08/23/2006, 06:41 PM

i had a 20k a while back on a different ballast though it was more than 14k in my opinion but i dont think a full 20k.. at least not for me..

the photo in my gallery is after a couple of months.. i didnt notice a much of a difference between new and a week later..so burn in isnt much

01/19/2006, 02:29 PM	#1
fly2cast Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 56	Ebay MH bulbs. Does anyone have any experience with those offbrand MH bulbs sold on ebay for $35 or less? How are the colors compared to a more exensive bulb? Any pictures of tanks using these bulbs? Thanks for your help.

01/19/2006, 03:36 PM	#2
VaderWS6 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,644	A friend of mine bought $30 10k 250watt mh bulbs off ebay brand new (forgot the brand) , and they look identical to XM 10k's in every way, even the color and intensity. __________________ 2001 black T/A WS6~M6 ASC#6979 331rwhp/348rwtq Mods: !CAGS, Pro 5.0, TSP lid, BGRA, Raptor shift light, Strange 4.10 gears, Strano springs, SLP Bilstein shocks, GMMG exhaust Current Tank Info: Main reef:75 gallon w/ 2 250watt Radium 20k run on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast w/Lumenbright mini reflectors. 4 110watt VHO actinics for dawn/dusk,Geo kalkreactor,Litermeter 3,Xtreme 160 skimmer,2 Vortech mp40w's

01/19/2006, 09:17 PM	#4
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	I've got a friend running those. I can't tell anything wrong with those, might just try these out myself next time. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/19/2006, 09:21 PM	#5
abfleck Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lake in the Hills, IL Posts: 3,773	hmmmmmmmmmmm................I have an off brand bulb like what you guys are describing and the color is so yellow its makes me want to puke. The bulb is a 10 K too! __________________ ((((((((((((((((29 Gallon Reef, 10 gallon sump/Fuge, Tunze Nano Skimmer, Precision Marine media reactor, 250 watt MH with XM 20K and two VHO actinics)))))))))))))))))0 Current Tank Info: 29 rr

01/19/2006, 09:45 PM	#7
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	www.hellolights.com __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/19/2006, 09:05 PM	#3
fly2cast Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 56	Thats what I wanted to know. Thanks.

01/19/2006, 09:23 PM	#6
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Am looking for 14 K MH bulbs. Anyone know a good place on line to get them? Thanks.

08/21/2006, 10:26 PM	#8
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	Halide XM 10K vs Ebay 10K Old thread, but I thought I'd post here instead of starting a new one: Ebay cheap MH 10K (6 mos old) bulbs on left tank XM 10K (new) on right tank both are 175W .......both run off 175W Magnetek tar ballast(s).

08/21/2006, 10:30 PM	#9
chinaman4u Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PennStatePA Posts: 600	I should note that when the cheap bulbs were new they were a bit whiter, but my 1 yr old ushio's still burned whiter. These cheap bulbs lose their intensity real fast. No actinics on, just the bulbs.

08/21/2006, 10:41 PM	#10
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I just got a 250 watt SE MH hamilton 14k for 58 bucks off www.diyreef.com __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/21/2006, 10:45 PM	#11
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	What a bummer I just found a hamilton 250 SE MH 14k for 47 bucks at WWW.fishsupply.com Figures LOL __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/22/2006, 04:14 PM	#12
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	chinaman4u is the cheap bulb an Plus Brand Bulb ? __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

08/22/2006, 04:27 PM	#13
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	I have bought both the 10K and 14K bulbs off of ebay from greatdel I believe. I got 2 of each. One 10K looked good and the other was very yellow. The 14K's looked good but kept burning out. You get what you pay for. I just bought the 14K hamiltons from fishsupply and love them. Cheers __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

08/22/2006, 07:40 PM	#14
escape2theocean Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 91	Talk about a bummer, I just bought 2 hamilton 250w 14k's from hellolights for $82 each!

08/22/2006, 07:44 PM	#15
rsxs1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bradenton Posts: 1,148	i bought an off brand 14k off ebay and i have hardly any blue.. the 50 gal tank in my gallery is the 14k bulb.. it was only like 29 bucks but its not blue at all as ytou can see __________________ 60% of the time it works every time Current Tank Info: 75g RR,asm g3, eheim 1250, 2 1200's one highflow maxistream mod (may do another or med flow.) , 30g sump,fuge, 4x54 T5 lighting SLR reflectors, RO/DI top off, 20L FOWLR, 10 g prop/sps dedicated

08/22/2006, 07:49 PM	#16
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	your 14k looks like a member of local clubs 14k I want some blue just not like my Coralvue 20k I wonder if thier 20k is more like a 14k __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

08/22/2006, 07:58 PM	#17
rsxs1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bradenton Posts: 1,148	its a "PlusRite" 14,000k 175w bulb running on a hamilton technologies 175w MH ballast __________________ 60% of the time it works every time Current Tank Info: 75g RR,asm g3, eheim 1250, 2 1200's one highflow maxistream mod (may do another or med flow.) , 30g sump,fuge, 4x54 T5 lighting SLR reflectors, RO/DI top off, 20L FOWLR, 10 g prop/sps dedicated

08/22/2006, 09:05 PM	#18
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	that's the same bulb a club member has I might just get 1 14k and a 20k just to see how blue the 20k really is if I don't like run the 14k __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

08/23/2006, 12:20 AM	#20
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	k thanks that doesn't sound like the plus brand bulbs __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

08/23/2006, 08:11 AM	#22
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	Ya I'm gona make sure I don't get ones from them I'm planning on going thru A to T lamps they sell the Plus Brand bulbs __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

08/23/2006, 05:36 PM	#23
javatech Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 492	I just got one on the the bay for 23.99 from lights64 it's a PlusRite 250 14K it's nice and bright but it's not 14k it's a good 10k i'll have to give it a few days __________________ Sometimes I question the wisdom of my actions, but more often I seem to be acknowledging the stupidity of them. Current Tank Info: 240 plywood & glass

08/23/2006, 05:57 PM	#24
aries70 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plattsburgh, NY Posts: 347	Ya that's why I was gona get the 20k and a 14k just in case thier 20k is actually 20k __________________ Bordem Does Strange Things Current Tank Info: 65G tank, 250W DE, DIY 4" 6 Foot O3 Reactor/ Skimmer , Tunze 6055, Seio P1000/1500

08/23/2006, 06:41 PM	#25
rsxs1212 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bradenton Posts: 1,148	i had a 20k a while back on a different ballast though it was more than 14k in my opinion but i dont think a full 20k.. at least not for me.. the photo in my gallery is after a couple of months.. i didnt notice a much of a difference between new and a week later..so burn in isnt much __________________ 60% of the time it works every time Current Tank Info: 75g RR,asm g3, eheim 1250, 2 1200's one highflow maxistream mod (may do another or med flow.) , 30g sump,fuge, 4x54 T5 lighting SLR reflectors, RO/DI top off, 20L FOWLR, 10 g prop/sps dedicated